Four pubs in Sector 30, Sohna Road in red zone after measurement

A team comprising officials from district administration, excise department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD) and the police started measuring the distance of establishments on Thursday morning

Vapour bar in Sector 48, three pubs in Sector 30 and one on Sohna Road were found to be outside the safe zone.(Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Four pubs and bars in Sector 30 and Sohna Road stand to lose their liquor licences after a measurement found that these establishments came within 500 metres of the highway, officials said on Thursday.

The Supreme Court has banned the serving/sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and state highways after the high fatality rate in road accidents and the menace of drink driving were brought to the court’s notice.

A team comprising officials from district administration, excise department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD) and the police started measuring the distance of establishments on Thursday morning after owners of Nainkasi, Cooper’s Grill, Bar Bottles & barrels in Sector 30 and Galaxy hotel in Sector 15-Part 2 submitted affidavits requesting the exercise.

The distance of Nainkasi, Cooper’s Grill, Bar Bottles & barrels in Sector 30 from the highway was 187 metres to 287 metres, an official said, seeking anonymity.

The Galaxy hotel’s distance from the highway was 594 metres from the edge of the highway. The distance of Brauhaus bar in Omax Mall Sohna Road was 500 metres, excise officials said.

“We measured the distance from the edge of the service lane of the highway till the entrance to our pub, but the department has measured only till the gate so the distance has come 287 metres,” said Baljeet Singh, owner of Nainkasi Brewery, Sector 30.

Establishment owners were hopeful that they will get relief after Thursday’s exercise. The excise department had earlier prepared a list of 146 establishments — later revised to 115 establishments — that were believed to fall within 500 metres of highways.

“We measured on our own and our distance was more than 500 metres, but we wanted to be sure so we submitted the building plan along with an affidavit and requested the officials to measure the distance,” said Pardeep Bhardwaj, general manager, Galaxy hotels.

The committee members submitted their reports to the deputy commissioner on Thursday.

“We have been regularly sending reports to the deputy commissioner. The measurement exercise is videographed and no one can tamper with the results,” said HC Dahiya, deputy excise and taxation commissioner (West), Gurgaon.

“Hospitality establishments cater to lodging, conferencing, banqueting and eating out. Serving of liquor is an integral part of the overall experience. Office-goers and residents have been deprived of this experience which they didn’t bargain for when moving into this city,” said Rahul Singh, head of the Haryana chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India.